I was in high school in the late 90s, and had absolutely no interest in college, at all. Not in medieval history, not in women's studies, certainly not in STEM,

I was in high school in the late 90s, and had absolutely no interest in college, at all. Not in medieval history, not in women's studies, certainly not in STEM, nothing. I just wanted to graduate HS and go learn a trade or something, and do music on the side. I never wanted to set foot in a classroom again. As dumb as that sounds, that's what I wanted to do. I got so much shit from my parents and teachers. Not going to college was unacceptable. You HAD to go, it didn't matter what you majored in or how much it cost. People who go to college get good jobs and join the country club, people who don't wind up in jail or something. I'm not exaggerating, that was the message. Of course that's just my experience, but for whatever that's worth, OP's experience is definitely consistent with mine.